INAUGURAL ADDRESS 



ON 



SOME ANATOMICAL PROBLEMS BEARING UPON 



EVOLUTION. 



By Prof. PATERSON, M.D., President. 



[Read October 12th, 1900.] 



Introduction. 



My first duty is to tliank the Liverpool Biological 

 Society for tlie compliment paid to me in my election to 

 the post of President for the current Session. It is a 

 great honour to preside over this society, which under the 

 guidance of many enthusiastic Naturalists has attained a 

 position in the district and in the wider sphere of natural 

 science of which it may well be proud : and it is a great 

 honour to succeed men who have previously occupied this 

 chair, men respected and distinguished for their knowledge 

 and their original work. 



In an ideal state the President of this Society would 

 know everything about something and something about 

 everything. In reality I suspect all your previous 

 Presidents would admit absolute ignorance of many things 

 and partial knowledge of a few. In this respect I feel 

 fully equal to the standard of excellence required. 

 Indeed it is in truth the ever narrowing specialism 

 of Biological science which most of all justifies the 

 existence of such a society as this. Each of us is apt to 

 follow his own solitary pathway of thought to the neglect 

 of the pursuits of others. One of the main objects of our 

 meetings here is to break down the barriers raised In- 

 separate investigation, by collectivism to improve on 

 individualism, by sympathy to widen knowledge. One 



